Kate Lenhart, RN, Intensive Care Unit, was recently recognized with the DAISY Award for the exceptional, compassionate care she provided to a patient and their family during one of life’s most difficult moments. Her steady presence, empathetic communication, and dedication to ensuring comfort and dignity exemplify Mount Nittany Health’s core values of caring, integrity, and respect.
Kate was nominated by a family member whose grandmother received care in the ICU. The family experienced uncertainty, grief, and fear — emotions made easier to bear because of Kate’s guidance and kindness.
Her nomination read:
“Please consider Kate as a Daisy Award recipient.
She provided exceptional care to my grandmother while in the ICU. She was very compassionate toward not only my grandmother but also our entire family. She was patient with us and answered any/all of our questions regarding her status and plan of care. She prepared us for her passing and explained what we should expect as her disease process progressed.
She had gone above and beyond to ensure she was as comfortable as possible while in her care.
I am forever grateful for her kindness during this hard time.
Please thank her sincerely from our family.”
Kate has been part of Mount Nittany Health since September 2011, serving throughout her tenure as a bedside nurse in the Intensive Care Unit. She began her nursing education at Chatham University’s Shadyside School of Nursing. Before joining Mount Nittany Medical Center, Kate worked at UPMC — first as a coordinator for the Stem Cell Transplant team and later in the Solid Organ Transplant ICU.
Reflecting on her work, Kate said, “What I enjoy most about my work is seeing patients get better. In the ICU, the amount of progress that can be made in just a day is amazing! It’s gratifying to be part of helping patients. Of course, not everyone does get better, and then it’s about supporting the patient and family as they cope with end-of-life processes. To know that the person who nominated me for my DAISY Award did so because she felt my end-of-life care was impactful is very humbling.”
Outside of work, Kate loves spending time in her kitchen. “Cooking is my expression of love and caring for others,” she said. She also enjoys gardening, canning, kayaking, and attending dirt track car races with her boyfriend, Randy.
Kate extended special appreciation to her colleagues in the ICU. She said, “We have such a great team of nurses and providers! It’s all hands on deck, so to speak, when one of us has a really sick patient. I recently had a patient’s spouse say to me after a critical situation with her husband, ‘The way you guys do what you do, I’ve never seen anything like it.’”
Please join us in congratulating Kate on this well-deserved recognition and in thanking her for her extraordinary commitment to our patients and their families. Kate, thank you for the compassion, skill, and excellence you bring to the Mount Nittany Health Experience. Your work strengthens our mission of “Healthier people, stronger community.”
Created by the family of Patrick Barnes, who passed away from complications of an autoimmune disease in 1999, the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is an international program designed to recognize exceptional nursing care. With over 5,000 participating healthcare facilities across all 50 states and 31 countries, nurses throughout Mount Nittany Health have the opportunity to receive this prestigious recognition.
Anyone—including patients, families, visitors, volunteers, or staff—can nominate a nurse for this esteemed award. If you are interested in nominating a deserving nurse or have any questions, please contact daisyaward@mountnittany.org.